Critic Reviews

Max Payne is the good person. He may be broken and bitter and praying for a way out of his miserable life, but he still does what needs to be done to save the innocent and protect the helpless. The loss of his family devastated him beyond belief but when there is a job to be done; as unpleasant and suicidal as it may be, he will get the job done. If you have never played Max Payne or, let alone this game, the experience alone is one for the generation. It is an all around amazing game and everyone should definitely rent or own and play this title. Rockstar once again has impressed the gaming world again. If you do not believe me, go see for yourself.

Max Payne is the good person. He may be broken and bitter and praying for a way out of his miserable life, but he still does what needs to be done to save the innocent and protect the helpless. The loss of his family devastated him beyond belief but when there is a job to be done; as unpleasant and suicidal as it may be, he will get the job done. If you have never played Max Payne or, let alone this game, the experience alone is one for the generation. It is an all around amazing game and everyone should definitely rent or own and play this title. Rockstar once again has impressed the gaming world again. If you do not believe me, go see for yourself.

Max Payne is the good person. He may be broken and bitter and praying for a way out of his miserable life, but he still does what needs to be done to save the innocent and protect the helpless. The loss of his family devastated him beyond belief but when there is a job to be done; as unpleasant and suicidal as it may be, he will get the job done. If you have never played Max Payne or, let alone this game, the experience alone is one for the generation. It is an all around amazing game and everyone should definitely rent or own and play this title. Rockstar once again has impressed the gaming world again. If you do not believe me, go see for yourself.

Max Payne 3 is a solid game made for the PC, with incredible visuals and sound to go along with that. This is a no brainer for any action shooter fan out there. If you have not tried this legendary series yet, then Max Payne 3 is a perfect introduction.

However, if you're looking for a fast-paced, explosion-filled, Michael Bay-type experience, you're probably going to want to steer clear of Max Payne 3. Remember, this is a game where you slow things down. When you actually add them up, Max Payne 3 contains more played-out references than I'm typically comfortable endorsing. You've got a burned-out cop with a drinking problem who plays by his own rules, a highly funded crime syndicate bent on personal revenge, and a gameplay mechanic that's made its way into almost every video game and film over the last decade. Rockstar even added a last stand mode, à la Call of Duty, as if one overused mechanic weren't already enough. But clichés exist for a reason, and Max Payne uses them all flawlessly. In fact, I would almost say that anyone who's used one of these clichés up till now was just trying to be like Max Payne 3.

A true cinematic gaming masterpiece, Max Payne 3 is not just another triumph for Rockstar, but it's also testament to what the developer can do when it turns its hand to linear storytelling. Max Payne 3 might be a stylistic shift for the series, but it's also a raw and brutal portrait of a man pushed to the edge that deserves a place alongside Rockstar's superlative open-world efforts. Get ready to enter a world of Payne.

A true cinematic gaming masterpiece, Max Payne 3 is not just another triumph for Rockstar, but it's also testament to what the developer can do when it turns its hand to linear storytelling. Max Payne 3 might be a stylistic shift for the series, but it's also a raw and brutal portrait of a man pushed to the edge that deserves a place alongside Rockstar's superlative open-world efforts. Get ready to enter a world of Payne.

No matter what gameplay mode I chose, I had a great time playing Max Payne 3. The gameplay doesn’t explore new territory, but delivers a retro charm that fans of the series should appreciate. It’s a new day for Max Payne, and at the same time, a return to his glorious past.

The 10-12 hour journey will have players feeling a mixture of emotions as they follow Max through every blood laden area. Max Payne 3 has action that keeps things moving along and ramps up the challenge as player’s progress through the chapters. At the end of the day, Rockstar brought all of their signatures to Max Payne 3 and left fans with unforgettable lasting impression.

The 10-12 hour journey will have players feeling a mixture of emotions as they follow Max through every blood laden area. Max Payne 3 has action that keeps things moving along and ramps up the challenge as player’s progress through the chapters. At the end of the day, Rockstar brought all of their signatures to Max Payne 3 and left fans with unforgettable lasting impression.

But while the multiplayer is enjoyable, the single-player campaign is a knockout. There's incentive to return to the campaign and conquer it on higher difficulty levels, or to tackle the leaderboards in Arcade mode and in New York Minute mode, in which you race through levels, earning time for each kill. Times change and people change, too; Max Payne isn't the same man by the end of this game that he is at the beginning. It's fitting, then, that the gameplay has also evolved, that Max needs to proceed with a bit more caution than he did in his younger days. They say the more things change, the more they stay the same, and one thing remains true: you can still count on the Max Payne name to deliver some of the most stylish, distinctive, pulse-pounding shooting around.

There are plenty of games which are celebrated for their gameplay but lack anything in way of story or character. Max Payne 3 is a different type of proposition. The gameplay is simple yet satisfying, but it’s entirely in the service of a strongly-authored narrative. Players aren’t at the liberty to roam, to explore, or to shake things up. Some might find this too controlling, but in return for your freedom, you’re rewarded with a mature genre piece which is also a finely-realised character study. Action games continue to inch the dial towards 11, sometimes at the expense of their narrative integrity. Max Payne 3, however, has the conviction to reign in the action, imbue it with purpose - the spectacle still sparkles but it also makes sense.

Max Payne 3 is a stylish, violent adventure that is presented like a Michael Mann film and plays like a John Woo flick. The phenomenal soundtrack by HEALTH rounds off a cinematic single player campaign that is joined by a surprisingly solid multiplayer component. James McCaffrey sells the entire experience, even when it falters – his hardboiled voiceover is certainly worth playing for. It’s a shame that some strange bugs mar the experience at times and the shooting can admittedly get somewhat repetitive towards the end of Max’s adventure. Regardless, this is one of 2012’s most enjoyable third-person shooters – possibly its best – and once again proves that when it comes to quality game design, Rockstar are second to none.

Bullet-time is like whips and black leather – it's oh-so-exciting at first, but after awhile it becomes routine. Ultimately, Max Payne 2 is like a new braided whip – less king with a sharper sting, and fun right up until you don't want any more.

Max Payne 3 will be instantly recognisable to anyone who has been on a Max Payne outing in the past, but it also appeals to newcomers who will be dazzled by the production values of Rockstar. Whilst it sports an average multiplayer, Max Payne 3 is definitely a fantastic single-player experience.

They say the more things change, the more they stay the same, and one thing remains true: you can still count on the Max Payne name to deliver some of the most stylish, distinctive, pulse-pounding shooting around.

It seemed longer for a new Max Payne game, because that’s the kind of game you don’t play for infinity. It’s more of something that you take to heart once, lock it away, and then let nostalgia age those memories into what must now be a product of utter perfection. That’s a tall order to live up to, and Rockstar took a look at those demands, took a few core principles, and then gave us a Max Payne game worth talking about and absolutely worth playing with a ballsy willingness to not compromise on their own artistic direction.

I find it difficult to be overly critical about Max Payne 3. While it has a few missteps and lacks the semi tongue in cheek humor of the original games, I found that the experience of Max’s journey to be far more engrossing than I initially expected. This was a game I was ready to dislike when it the change in direction was announced, but in the end I just can’t stop talking about it. Although the experience will largely be the same whether you play the game on PC or consoles, if your machine can handle it then definitely get the PC version for the graphics and precision aiming. Incredibly comfortable gunplay, beautiful visuals and a mature storyline combine to make Max Payne 3 an evocative game that simply must be experienced.

Overall, Max Payne is a solid shooter that not only keeps the core elements that made the series a hit but also added improvements in almost every aspect making Max Payne 3 the best in the franchise to date. The story is suspenseful, engaging and I was impressed the games character development. The single player and multiplayer gameplay is not only fun but also challenging. Fans of the series will surely enjoy this game and those new to the series will be in for a treat.

Even if it’s not a huge innovation, Max Payne 3 uses all the elements that made the series a significant name among action titles. The story is interesting and you get lots of reasons to go through it again at least twice or go for headshots in multiplayer. It’s true that Max is older and the end might have changed him forever, but he will continue to offer what we expect him to: intense action, adrenaline and, why not, stylish kills.

In the end Max Payne 3 is just the same as over ten years ago, but also totally not. The gameplay is still as addictive, but the presentation has leaped forward and the story as well as the character have grown and become more adult. Bullet time of course doesn't have the same impact but does guarantee tons of stylish fun and bloodshed in the surroundings that you'll love to shoot to pieces. Add to that a lead character who's become an icon and you know the campaign is rock solid. The multiplayer disappointed a bit but that's not why you would buy this game.

In addition to a campaign that will take you around 13 hours to finish players will find some extra arcade modes to provide extra hours of game play and a great multiplayer packed with features to take the number even higher.

Max Payne 3 stands out as a great shooter and a worthy successor to the franchise, proving once again that Rockstar are the best at taking their ideas forwards in terms of solid single player mechanics and interesting multiplayer ones too. It is a game that any Max Payne fan needs to play and own. Be warned, it comes on 2 discs.

What you should take away from everything above is that Max Payne 3 is a worthy sequel to the Remedy Games originals. Max's monologues aren't quite as faux-serious (and are instead depressingly serious) and the cover mechanic will certainly be an adjustment for fans of the first two games, but there's a lot of action, challenge, twists in the story, and plenty to do after the credits roll that Max Payne 3 gets high marks indeed.

Rockstar had a tough job on their hands when they took on this game because of the great fan appreciation of the first two games from Remedy. Whether the developer has done the series justice is up to those die hard fans, but for those of us who just want ten hours of entertainment, or more if you include the multiplayer, Max Payne 3 is a gritty, over the top yet rooted in reality, messy bit of fun.

It’s been a long wait, but overall I am definitely satisfied with my time in Max Payne 3. It was addictive and entertaining to play from beginning to end, and after a brief stint on Arcade I realised I could easily play it again and still enjoy it – and the multiplayer’s pretty damn fun too, if sadly lacking in co-op. While I would have preferred an American Noir setting I can’t really fault having something different, and Sao Paulo makes a disturbing new world to explore. The cutscenes are too abundant for my tastes, and the bad checkpointing artificially raises the difficulty (not to mention the frustration), but otherwise this is a well-polished and challenging shooter that’s at home on PC.

A compelling kidnapping story quickly devolves into pointless mass murder, with the least interesting iteration of this franchise’s protagonist at the center. What’s the point of having extraordinary production values and cutting-edge presentation if you’re not presenting anything worthwhile? Luckily, Max Payne 3’s multiplayer is worth the price of entry alone, and the single-player Arcade challenges are great as well. Or vice versa, depending on your personal preference.

Max Payne 3 is a real love-hate relationship. Just when the solo story is getting good, the gameplay will get clunky, the slow-mo will go unused or Max will do something dumb. But then you remember how fun and creative the multiplayer is, and you can't in good conscience completely hate the game. Max 3 is a rocky return to form but at least Max Payne is back and dodging bullets again.

I give this one a hearty recommendation as long as you're not dead-set on seeing Max Payne stay stuck in the last decade. Annoyances aside, Rockstar still did a pretty damn good job, and I really hope that despite the game's lackluster sales, they can figure out a way to keep this franchise alive.

On the single-player side, supplemental campaign modes like the time-based New York Minute and flair-favoring Score Attack add ample replay value. Strip away the game’s various modes and issues, though, and Max Payne 3 is, at its core, a compelling action game in its very own sub-genre. More epic than the likes of Ninja Gaiden or Bayonetta and packed with more personality than most entire first-person shooters, Max Payne 3 is a unique brand of entertainment. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait almost a decade for another dose of it.

The continuing saga of everyone’s favourite terrible cop has been a long time coming. Maybe too long. It’s not bad by any means; there are moments of high-fiving, air-punching joy here. The trouble is it’s both as eloquent and repetitive as its lead. Moments of glory clash with irritating, baffling design decisions to ensure that Max Payne 3 isn’t quite the sequel we all hoped for. Brilliant in places, utterly frustrating in others.

Under any other name, Max Payne 3 would have been significantly more impressive. Given the expectations associated with this series, it’s hard not to be underwhelmed by a game that takes the safe road at every chance. Following the roller-coaster twists and turns of the previous Max Payne games, this iteration is a ride around the merry-go-round with a pretty girl. It’s enjoyable and gets your heart pumping, but at the end of the night you know she’s going back to Trevor because he has a Corvette.

Max Payne 3 might solve the problem of how you manage to reload when carrying more than one gun, but detailing alone can’t change the fact that this is a surprisingly conservative game from Rockstar. Its absorption of cover mechanics makes Payne feel more familiar than he should, but even then his signature tricks are over a decade old. This is a game about a world-weary killer doing the only thing he knows how to, and for all its spectacular action beats there’s something apt about Max’s fatigue.

What it has in abundance, though, is expensive-looking environments for Max to dive around in and then talk to himself, and that's just about enough to keep you going for as long as it takes to settle the score. All the same, you can't escape the feeling that Rockstar just isn't as good at a pure third-person shooter as it is with the open worlds of Grand Theft Auto or Red Dead Redemption, and in this linear context it's much harder to put up with its usual missteps in mechanics and difficulty. Max the man emerges with credit from Max Payne 3, then, but time hasn't been kind to the ropier elements of the game he stars in.

Overall, this game is completely forgettable and not worth playing. There are countless third person shooters and many of them are more fun to play in single player or with a friend. If you must play this game, wait till it drops down to 30 bucks and the online gets fixed. Any game that has the amount of talent being poured into it that this one has (as shown by the 30 minute credits sequence) should be more than a “meh” experience. We didn’t need a third Max Payne game and this game sure as hell doesn’t prove otherwise.